The Needham Board of Selectmen received 10 complete applications for the town’s new liquor licenses, which allow package stores to open in Needham for the first time, according to Sandy Cincotta, Needham’s support services manager. The board will hold public hearings on each application on Saturday.
In November, residents voted to allow the off-site sale of alcohol in the historically dry town. Only restaurants and the Sheraton Needham Hotel were allowed to serve alcohol in the past. Needham is now allowed six liquor licenses, and will get an additional two in 2018. No more than six at a time will permit the sale of all alcohol; others would be limited to the sale of beer and wine. Though six licenses are available now, the board has discussed the possibility of only granting a smaller number of licenses at first. The hearings will begin
at 8 a.m. in the Performance Center of the Broadmeadow Elementary School, at 120 Broad Meadow Road. For anyone unable to make the hearing, public comments can also be sent to the Board of Selectmen, c/o Needham Town Hall, 1471 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA or selectmen@needhamma.gov.